THE ANTIINFLAMMATORY AND LIVER PROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF BOUSSINGAULTIA-GRACILIS VAR PSEUDOBASELLOIDES EXTRACT IN RATS

The pharmacological effects of Boussingaultia gracilis var. pseudobase lloides was studied against carrageenan-induced paw oedema, CCl4 and D -galactosamine (D-GalN) induced hepatotoxicity in rats. The water extr acts of B. gracilis var; pseudobaselloides (leaf, stem, brood bud) wer e found to maintain significant antiinflammatory activity against carr ageenan-induced oedema. The administration of the brood bud extract (3 00 mg/kg) was more potent than indomethacin (10 mg/kg). Moreover, the water extracts of B. gracilis var. pseudobaselloides (leaf, stem, broo d bud) significantly decreased the acute increase in serum GOT and GPT levels caused by CCl4 and D-GalN. Histological changes such as necros is, fatty change, ballooning degeneration, inflammatory infiltration o f lymphocytes and Kupffer cells around the central vein (CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity) and portal vein (D-GalN induced hepatotoxicity), were simultaneously improved by the treatment with B. gracilis var. pseudob aselloides (leaf, stem, brood bud).